Engineering Volume 14 - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 Excerpt: ...and collateral undertakings, Sir Arthur Helps has written a chapter so good as to make one wish it were better; it is indeed of considerable interest, though lacking of course in what would make it of real value--precise information. His sketches, however, of the difficulties of the British workmen in a foreign land, and the troubles of the British workmen's masters, are well drawn, and the method the English navvies employed for teaching the French terrassiers is worth reproducing. It consisted in pointing to the earth to be removed, stamping hard on the ground, and saying " damn." This method, however, as the author somewhat naively remarks, "was only applicable to very simple cases." At the time of the great railway mania, another change took place in Mr. Brassey's career; he ceased to be a mere contractor, and became eagerly sought after by the projectors of great railway schemes. That this change should come upon a man of Mr. Brassey's calibre, was inevitable; that he was able so fully to adapt himself to it is another proof of the capacity for his special business which he possessed to such a remarkable degree. From this time ho "took the greater care not to waste his time, thought, or energy upon any work of detail which he could get as well done for him by others." He had to do with results, leaving to others the labour of attaining them. In pointing out that this characteristic of Mr. Brassey was one of the chief reasons that led to his future successes, Sir Arthur Helps makes some comments that are worth quoting. "It is sometimes found," he says, "that the man who can govern and direct a few persons under him--those persons remaining constantly under his eye--is perfectly incompetent to manage great und...

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